1913 J Allen, An Essex County Ornithologist. 21 



His attainments were such that had he not chosen to live the quiet, 

 retired life of his native hills, he would have won distinction in the 

 artistic and mechanical side of taxidermy. By those who knew 

 him he will ever be remembered as a man of unusually lovable 

 qualities and nobility of character." 



The notebooks, from which the following items are abstracted, 

 cover the period from 1880 to 1911, and though at first confined to 

 records of birds shot, became later more systematic, with entries 

 of all dates on which the different species were seen or killed. 

 Beyond this there is rarely more than an occasional remark con- 

 cerning some unusual circumstance, except for dates when birds 

 were seen mating or when eggs were found. In addition to the 

 notes on birds, several pages in some years are given to lists of 

 local trees with dates on which they first bloomed or put out their 

 leaves, when the first thunder shower occurred, the first frogs were 

 heard, and the like. The bird records seem to be made with 

 much caution and as they are frequently substantiated by the 

 actual specimen, may in most cases be deemed wholly trustworthy. 

 Part of the collection was destroyed but the remainder is in good 

 condition and consists of several hundred mounted specimens, 

 some of the more interesting of which have been acquired by the 

 Boston Society of Natural History for its New England collection. 



In the paragraphs which follow, it is to be understood that unless 

 definitely mentioned, the locality is Amesbury, Mass., or the im- 

 mediate vicinity 



1. Uria lomvia lomvia. Brunnich's Murre. — An unusually early 

 date of appearance is November 9, 1901. Late November is the usual 

 time for this bird on our coast. The first fall arrival is noted on Novem- 

 ber 24, 1890, and November 28, 1893. 



2. Sterna hirundo. Common Tern. — The increase in numbers of 

 this species on our coast of late years due to the protection afforded the 

 breeding birds is evidenced by the entries in the notebooks. Although 

 rarely recorded in summer previous to 1906, yet after that date it regularly 

 appears during late July and in August. 



3. Oceanodroma leucorhoa. Leach's Petrel. — On October 16, 

 1887, one was shot at Kimball's Pond, a large body of fresh water a short 

 distance inland. It is a striking fact that the inland records for this bird 

 in New England are mainly of specimens seen on ponds or rivers during 

 the middle of October. Possibly these petrels are then in active migration 

 .south and at thai time more frequently wander or are blown inland. 



